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(No Model.)

J. COHEN. PREPARING SMOKING TOBACCO.

No. 587,184. Patented July 27, 1-897.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

JULIUS COHEN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

PREPARING SMOKING-TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,184, dated July 27, 1897.

Application filed May 18, 1897. Serial No. 687,025. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS COHEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Preparing Smoking-Tobacco, of which the following is a specification.

Smoking-tobacco as put upon the market in the form of cigars or cigarettes usually contains considerable deleterious material, such as nicotine, and the flavor of the ordinary tobacco is frequently objectionable.

The object of the present invention is to treat the tobacco in such a manner as to drive off or neutralize to a considerable extent the nicotine or other deleterious materials and then to impart to the tobacco an agreeable flavor that becomes fixed and remains, so that the tobacco when smoked is acceptable both in condition and flavor. \Vith this object in View the physical and chemical conditions of the tobacco are changed by the action of an acid, and then the prepared tobacco is dipped in a solution of vegetable materials and allowed to ferment in casks or other closed vessels to give to such tobacco a permanent vinous flavor, after which the tobacco is in a condition for use after being dried to the desired extent.

In carrying out this improvement the tober A.- I have represented at D the boiler or other suitable vessel, heated advantageously by a gas-flame from the burner E, and the pipeO leads to the upper part of this vessel D, and there maybe an indicator-pipe F, leading down to near the bottom of the vessel D, so that the escape of steam from this pipe F serves to call the attendants attention, so that a fresh supply of acid may be introduced in the vessel D. I prefer to employ acetic acid diluted with water in order that the proper proportion of Watery vapors may accompany the acid vapors. I, however, do not limit myself to the particular acid employed.

The effect of the acid vapors upon the tobacco is to soften the same and to drive off from the tobacco deleterious materials-such as nicotine and alkaloids, bitter gums, or volatile con1poundsso that t-he tobacco is cleansed from objectionable materials to a very considerable extent. Openings are provided in the chamber A for the escape of the vapors and deleterious materials, so that such tobacco is free from objectionable impurities, and the traces of acetic acid remaining in the tobacco are not objectionable, and the leaves are softened by the action of the moisture and heat and thoroughly cured. After this process the tobacco is removed from the chamber A and dipped one or more times into a solution of vegetable saccharine materials. I prefer to make for this object a decoction of coffee, raisins, prunes, and St. Johns bread in about equal proportions, and this solution adheres to a small extent to the tobacco-leaves. I then pack the tobacco-leaves in a moist condition into casks or similar tight vessels and exclude the atmosphere as much as possible and allow the tobacco-leaves to remain about a week, more or less, and during this time a fermentation is set up which gives to the vegetable saccharine materials a vinous taste, which remains with the tobacco and is acceptable when such tobacco is made up into cigars, cigarettes, or smoking-tobacco. The tobacco may be dried after being removed from the casks, or it may be made up into cigars or otherwise While in a moist condition.

Any desired flavor may be imparted to the tobacco, and it remains, because itbecomes fixed during the fermentation.

I claim as my invention- 1. The herein-described process of preparing smoking-tobacco consisting in subjecting the same to the action of acid vapors, applying to such tobacco a solution of saccharine material and allowing such saccharine material to ferment to impart to the tobacco a Vinous flavor, substantially as set forth.

2. The method herein specified of treating, tobacco consisting in subjecting such tobacco to a vapor from acetic acid and Waterand immersing the same in a saccharine solution, packing such tobacco in a vessel, closing such vessel sufficiently to lessen atmospheric action and allowing the materials to ferment to impart a vinous flavor to such tobacco, sub- IO stantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 17th day of May, 1897.

JULIUS COHEN. \Vitnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, S. T. HAVILAND. 

